Cush H moves to Kentucky....

C

Cushing H.

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Jun 3, 2019
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One might ask, in the twists and turns of life .... how a boy, raised in New England (time shared between Boston and Maine, and a LOT of hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire) would end up living the balance of his life in Minnesota, and now, is moving to ...... Louisville Kentucky...... ???

good news and bad news.

Good news - the house we are building has a a generous amount of unfinished basement - MUCH more space than I currently have in which to create a shop space .... including walled off grinding area, a truly ceiling suspended air cleaner with headspace, multiple options for new work benches (I need to review those diagonally braced benches Stacy created for his dream shop), and even ultra easy runs of electric for 220/240 volts to the grinder.

Bad news - this is a closely spaced community with a "homeowners association", that I have absolutely no doubt would look ..... askance ..... at an operation like a forge and blacksmithing in the back yard :(. good news though is that it is highly unlikely they would even notice a HT oven operating on the back patio, so I can consider that, at least at the low throughput I would use for my own hobby operations.

So .... question .... I have considered trying to learn some blacksmithing skills .... mostly for things like producing San-mai, and maybe some damascus. Does anyone know of options in the Louisville area (and extended invirons) for 1) learning/practicing those skills, and 2) having access to shared workspace where I could do some low level (again, hobby level) production???

postscript - quick explanation - I as I have said am from New England, My wife grew up in Louisville (yes, I she is a "southern belle", and I am a "damn yankee"..... ). school and work (in various orders) brought us to Minnesota, and at this point kids are grown, we are both either totally or partially retired, and we are both quick sick of the northern tundra winters (last winter I slipped on ice and broke at least one rib - still hurts....). A southern climate appeals, and laura has family and friends in Louisville. Ok .... the bourbon available only at the distilleries does not hurt :-) . Move not to take place until next august or so....
 
Plan the shop well many times over before putting in a single bench.
I'll take some photos and make sketches of the diagonal braced benches. Super easy, and any physicist knows that there is no shape more stable than a triangle.

Final suggestion - Screws are your friends. They don't pull out and have much more strength than nails. They are also a lot easier to change or move than nails. I build EVERYTHING with screws or bolts. I don't even know where my boxes of nails are.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Plan the shop well many times over before putting in a single bench.
I'll take some photos and make sketches of the diagonal braced benches. Super easy, and any physicist knows that there is no shape more stable than a triangle.

Final suggestion - Screws are your friends. They don't pull out and have much more strength than nails. They are also a lot easier to change or move than nails. I build EVERYTHING with screws or bolts. I don't even know where my boxes of nails are.
Click to expand...
thanks stacy. screws it is. Unfortunately, the "down time" will inhibit my producing anything ... but then again, I am already seeing that will the everyday demands of life (like ... being a year behind on getting a wedding present to a niece :-( it WILL, however, be nice to have some space to "stretch my wings" so to speak. not unlimited, but MUCH more than I currently have (gosh ... I might just be able to put in a disk sander, or even (gasp) a buffer (if I have enough a "range" to catch any stray projectiles.... :-) )
 
I’m in Northern Kentucky near Cincinnati, I know it’s a drive but you would be welcome in my shop if you wanted to come out to forge Damascus or San mai.
 
I'll second Stacy's idea of screws rather than nails. I've just changed to screws totally.

The oven might could be used in the basement shop - I use my oven inside all the time. Some nice Copper Go-Mai can be made with just an oven.
 
Ken H> said:
I'll second Stacy's idea of screws rather than nails. I've just changed to screws totally.

The oven might could be used in the basement shop - I use my oven inside all the time. Some nice Copper Go-Mai can be made with just an oven.
Click to expand...
Hey Ken, do you by chance have the details of how you do this Go-Mai laid out anywhere? I'm very intrigued. Thanks!
 
I don't mean to hijack this thread, but don't really wish to start a new thread just for this short post. If more than the following is desired, let's start a new thread, or contact me via email or something.

Fairly simple for Go-Mai using copper for the inner layer with a high carbon for center, with steel or SS for the two outer layers. Doesn't really matter since the copper won't forge weld. The copper more "brazes/solder" the core to the outer layers at a temp just below the melting point of copper. The temp has (needs) to be kept below the melting point of copper, so it's easier to control temp in the oven than in forge.

Be sure to clean all sides that will be soldered/brazed together, seal the edges, either welding all the way around, or even sealing inside a SS foil seems to work ok in an oven.
 
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Just a piece of advice learned the hard way.
When welding or forging copper laminates, use GENTLE blows and don't get too close to the melting point of the copper. The energy of the blow from a hammer adds energy to the junction of the copper/steel and will cause the kinetic energy to convert to thermal energy ... which will melt the copper at the pint of the force. This makes for a good joint if controlled. If done too robustly, it squirts out molten copper and may ruin the weld.
Also, know what copper alloy you have and its EXACT melting point. It is rare that sheet copper is pure copper. Pure copper melts at 1985F/1085C. The alloys have melting points that are lower. If you don't know the alloy, assume it is 20F/10C lower than pure coper.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Just a piece of advice learned the hard way.
When welding or forging copper laminates, use GENTLE blows and don't get too close to the melting point of the copper. The energy of the blow from a hammer adds energy to the junction of the copper/steel and will cause the kinetic energy to convert to thermal energy ... which will melt the copper at the pint of the force. This makes for a good joint if controlled. If done too robustly, it squirts out molten copper and may ruin the weld.
Also, know what copper alloy you have and its EXACT melting point. It is rare that sheet copper is pure copper. Pure copper melts at 1985F/1085C. The alloys have melting points that are lower. If you don't know the alloy, assume it is 20F/10C lower than pure coper.
Click to expand...
Hey Stacy - do you still think you might get time to post your thoughts/experience with creating those diagonally braced work benches??? :)
 
Yes, I have some tests* the docs are doing and when they are done, I'll put a thread together.

*Nothing serious (thankfully), but something they want to deal with.
 
Smoke is always good. סב”ד’

It seems like I am OK. At least nothing serious found so far. One of the best things is that I am blessed with a circle of friends who have good friends.

Another good thing is I am very fluent in medical language and procedures, as well as internal anatomy and functions. The docs and I talk as a team of colleagues and there is no sweet talking, dumbing down, or skipping over the technical parts. I have had to look up a few test numbers to see if they fall in the normal range, but so far I have had a good grasp of the situation. This has helped me keep Judy calmer, as she initially panicked that I was likely dying.

I had some intestinal distress about a month ago. My doctor (a really great guy who I consider a friend) couldn't pinpoint the cause, so he decided to do a CT scan. That showed no intestine issues but spotted a small 18X21mm mass at the tail of the pancreas. Could be anything at that point. Maybe a lucky find that would have never been known until too late?

My doctor told me to come over and see him the afternoon we got the report back (two days after scan), and while going over the results pulled out his cell phone and called a friend of his who is one of the best Gastroenterologists in the area. The guy saw me the next day. Nice to have good friends with good friends.
This was followed by an MRI in five days (super-fast time). That showed a hard shell with a soft center. Most likely was a neuroendocrine neoplasm, buy no way to be sure. Everything else looked fine.

Next was a gastric endoscopic ultrasound and needle biopsy (all done from inside the stomach) which he scheduled in three days (almost unheard-of speed). Biopsy took a week and confirmed neuroendocrine neoplasm. It is not IN the pancreas, but merely sitting on the tail. It does not appear to have any connection to any other organ. All other organs are fine, and the pancreas is otherwise normal. This indicates it is probably benign but should be removed soon.

The gastroenterologist had told his nurse to schedule my 5-year colonoscopy at the initial consult, and the earliest date was for December 6th.
When he called me Thursday last week to go over the results and schedule a surgical consult, he asked when the colonoscopy was scheduled for. I told him December 6 was the earliest his nurse had available for him. He said he would call me back. He called back in 15 minutes and had it scheduled for 8AM today.

The pancreatic surgeon's office called Friday morning and had me on the schedule for a pre-surgical consult next Monday. I was told by another friend that that group are months backed up on appointments.

The colonoscopy I had today went fast and smooth. I was home by 10AM. Three tiny polyps and a little diverticulosis (pretty normal for an old man) but nothing else going on up there. Biopsy will check the polyps, but they are not suspicious. Surgical consult next week and then surgery scheduling. I suspect laparoscopic surgery, but I'll let the surgeon decide. She is the best pancreatic surgeon in the region.

Basically, I feel fine except a slightly irritated belly.
I have full energy and strength and still work my normal Jewlery store schedule plus take care of everyone else's problems and do work at the church. My plans to retire in January were previous to all this. I still plan on retiring and enjoying my shop for many years to come. ... B'ezrat Hashem.
 
Ken H> said:
I don't mean to hijack this thread, but don't really wish to start a new thread just for this short post. If more than the following is desired, let's start a new thread, or contact me via email or something.

Fairly simple for Go-Mai using copper for the inner layer with a high carbon for center, with steel or SS for the two outer layers. Doesn't really matter since the copper won't forge weld. The copper more "brazes/solder" the core to the outer layers at a temp just below the melting point of copper. The temp has (needs) to be kept below the melting point of copper, so it's easier to control temp in the oven than in forge.

Be sure to clean all sides that will be soldered/brazed together, seal the edges, either welding all the way around, or even sealing inside a SS foil seems to work ok in an oven.
Click to expand...

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Just a piece of advice learned the hard way.
When welding or forging copper laminates, use GENTLE blows and don't get too close to the melting point of the copper. The energy of the blow from a hammer adds energy to the junction of the copper/steel and will cause the kinetic energy to convert to thermal energy ... which will melt the copper at the pint of the force. This makes for a good joint if controlled. If done too robustly, it squirts out molten copper and may ruin the weld.
Also, know what copper alloy you have and its EXACT melting point. It is rare that sheet copper is pure copper. Pure copper melts at 1985F/1085C. The alloys have melting points that are lower. If you don't know the alloy, assume it is 20F/10C lower than pure coper.
Click to expand...
Thank you, gentleman!
 
sounds like your initial info was sure scary. I'm so glad to hear it sounds like it's being taken care of. Be sure to keep your Bladeforum family updated with results.
 
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Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Smoke is always good. סב”ד’

It seems like I am OK. At least nothing serious found so far. One of the best things is that I am blessed with a circle of friends who have good friends.

Another good thing is I am very fluent in medical language and procedures, as well as internal anatomy and functions. The docs and I talk as a team of colleagues and there is no sweet talking, dumbing down, or skipping over the technical parts. I have had to look up a few test numbers to see if they fall in the normal range, but so far I have had a good grasp of the situation. This has helped me keep Judy calmer, as she initially panicked that I was likely dying.

I had some intestinal distress about a month ago. My doctor (a really great guy who I consider a friend) couldn't pinpoint the cause, so he decided to do a CT scan. That showed no intestine issues but spotted a small 18X21mm mass at the tail of the pancreas. Could be anything at that point. Maybe a lucky find that would have never been known until too late?

My doctor told me to come over and see him the afternoon we got the report back (two days after scan), and while going over the results pulled out his cell phone and called a friend of his who is one of the best Gastroenterologists in the area. The guy saw me the next day. Nice to have good friends with good friends.
This was followed by an MRI in five days (super-fast time). That showed a hard shell with a soft center. Most likely was a neuroendocrine neoplasm, buy no way to be sure. Everything else looked fine.

Next was a gastric endoscopic ultrasound and needle biopsy (all done from inside the stomach) which he scheduled in three days (almost unheard-of speed). Biopsy took a week and confirmed neuroendocrine neoplasm. It is not IN the pancreas, but merely sitting on the tail. It does not appear to have any connection to any other organ. All other organs are fine, and the pancreas is otherwise normal. This indicates it is probably benign but should be removed soon.

The gastroenterologist had told his nurse to schedule my 5-year colonoscopy at the initial consult, and the earliest date was for December 6th.
When he called me Thursday last week to go over the results and schedule a surgical consult, he asked when the colonoscopy was scheduled for. I told him December 6 was the earliest his nurse had available for him. He said he would call me back. He called back in 15 minutes and had it scheduled for 8AM today.

The pancreatic surgeon's office called Friday morning and had me on the schedule for a pre-surgical consult next Monday. I was told by another friend that that group are months backed up on appointments.

The colonoscopy I had today went fast and smooth. I was home by 10AM. Three tiny polyps and a little diverticulosis (pretty normal for an old man) but nothing else going on up there. Biopsy will check the polyps, but they are not suspicious. Surgical consult next week and then surgery scheduling. I suspect laparoscopic surgery, but I'll let the surgeon decide. She is the best pancreatic surgeon in the region.

Basically, I feel fine except a slightly irritated belly.
I have full energy and strength and still work my normal Jewlery store schedule plus take care of everyone else's problems and do work at the church. My plans to retire in January were previous to all this. I still plan on retiring and enjoying my shop for many years to come. ... B'ezrat Hashem.
Click to expand...
The hard shell around the thing, and the quick surgery sound very promising. Pls keep us posted? Sounds like they are taking good care of you!
 
Best wishes for an easy surgery and complete recovery to normal, Stacy.
 
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